Govt. allocates Rs. 13.3 b for rural development

Wednesday, 29 June 2016 00:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government has introduced immediate development projects to uplift the infrastructure facilities in rural areas, based on the mid-term economic policy presented by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on 5 November.

In par with this program themed “Development to the Village”, the government has planned to develop the infrastructure facilities in 13,305 rural areas with the allocation of Rs.13,300 million.

According to the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Niroshan Perera, the development activities in 10,600 villages are underway following the instructions of the President Maithripala Sirisena and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In implementing the projects, the committees comprised with the heads of the rural organisations will be established to identify the projects that should be given priority, bring benefits for the majority of people, improve the livelihoods of the people, and generate new job opportunities for the area. The selected projects will be allocated provisions by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs after they were approved by the divisional and the district coordination committees. Divisional secretariats will play the major role in drafting estimates, inviting the bids, handing over the contracts, and inspecting the constructions.

Community based water supply projects, power supply projects, rural roads, bridges, culverts, and minor irrigation projects will also be carried out under this program.